What is Phase I and Phase II treatment?
A. Phase I is treatment as early as 8 or 9 years of age that may involve partial braces to create space for developing and erupting teeth, correction of cross bites, overbites, under bites or harmful habits. Not all children need Phase I treatment. An early check-up helps determine whether it is necessary. Phase II treatment involves full braces, which allows maximum control of all teeth. This gives the doctor the ability to bodily move, tip, or torque any and all of the teeth in order to straighten them and create a healthy lasting smile.
Phase I, or earlier interceptive treatment, is limited orthodontic treatment (i.e. expander or partial braces) before all of the permanent teeth have erupted. Such treatment can occur between the ages of six and ten. This treatment is sometimes recommended to make more space for developing teeth and to correct crossbites, overbites, underbites, or harmful oral habits. Phase II treatment is also called comprehensive treatment. It involves full braces when all of the permanent teeth have erupted, usually between the ages of eleven and thirteen.
Phase I, or early interceptive treatment, is limited orthodontic treatment before all of the permanent teeth have erupted. In our office, interceptive procedures are utilized only on a limited basis. Several recent studies have indicated that in most instances, two-phase treatment does not produce an enhanced final result and frequently adds additional unnecessary expense. Phase II treatment is also called comprehensive treatment; it usually involves full braces and is started when most of the permanent teeth have erupted.
Phase-one treatment is completed before all of the permanent teeth have erupted. This treatment can occur between the ages of six and ten. Phase-one treatment is sometimes recommended to help create more space for developing teeth to come through, correction of cross bites, overbites, and under bites, or to repair the damage caused from bad oral habits such as thumb or finger sucking. Phase-two treatment always involves full braces once all of the permanent teeth have erupted. Phase-two usually is started between the ages of 11 and 13, and can take as long as two years.
Phase I, or early interceptive treatment, is limited orthodontic treatment (i.e. expander or partial braces) before all of the permanent teeth have erupted. Such treatment can occur between the ages of six and ten. This treatment is sometimes recommended to make more space for developing teeth, correction of crossbites, overbites, and underbites, or harmful oral habits. Phase II treatment is also called comprehensive treatment because it involves full braces when all of the permanent teeth have erupted, usually between the ages of eleven and thirteen.
